Episode 010 We are MORE GERMS than Human

Say what?  Of the 70 -100 trillion cells in your body, less than half (30million) are human cells. 

What else are we?  GERMS (microbes) - bacteria, fungi, viruses. 

It's estimated that 37 trillion cells are bacteria alone. 

What the heck are they doing in our bodies?  Keeping us alive. 

But I thought they were the enemy - wash your hands, use anti-bacterials, take anti-biotics, viruses make us sick. 

There are pathogenic microbes that make us sick (less than 1% of bacteria).  But there are way more are beneficial microbes that we depend on to keep us alive. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279387/ 

By now, most people are aware of the importance of gut health.  You may have heard me quote Boyd Truman, "If mom (the gut) ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  Isn't this true? 

Think back to the last time you had a stomach ache - how did you feel?  Needed to stay close to the bathroom.  Couldn't eat, maybe you couldn't even drink anything.  Couldn't really do anything.  Too tired, too much pain.  Weren't you miserable?

Not only does the health of our gut impact our physical well-being, it directly affects our mental well-being, as well.  The gut-brain axis describes the direct connection between the gut and the brain impacting how your brain functions - everything from mood (depressed, anxious) , brain fog, even memory. 

The gut houses one of the body's largest microbiomes - "the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us." https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/microbiome/index.cfm   

Microbiome - the invisible organ.

I just learned that each body system has its own microbiome.  I was familiar with the gut and the skin microbiomes - washing your hands or using caustic hand sanitizers too much actually destroys the microbiome on your hands (kills the protective bacteria) which can leave you more susceptible to harmful germs. 

(picture from https://mytruefood.com/2020/06/v-i-m-very-important-microbioma/)

It's so cool to learn that each of our systems has its own mix of microbes that helps it function. 

So, WHY do we have microbiomes in our body and how do the microbes keep us alive?  The microbes do everything from help us digest our food, to protect against disease.  They are an integral part of our immune system and even make vital vitamins that our cells need. 

Healthy microbiomes are strong and DIVERSE.  Dr. Russel J. Osguthorpe, an accomplished pediatric infectious disease specialist, describes the microbiome as a hotel.  If your microbiome is healthy and its rooms are filled with lots of different types of beneficial microbes, there's no space for pathogens (the harmful microbes) and they can't get in. 

There is a striking difference between the microbiomes of healthy people and those with dis-ease.  Researchers are continuously discovering more and more about the critical role of the microbiome in achieving optimal health.  For example, the microbiomes of healthy weight people were compared to the microbiomes of overweight people.  Guess what they found - there was 1 specific bacteria that healthy weight people had and the overweight people didn't.  They did an experiment with mice where they did a fecal transplant (basically transferring the microbiome) from healthy weight mice to overweight mice.  The overweight mice dropped weight! 

Currently in the US, fecal transplants are only approved for people with C. Diff.  An imbalanced microbiome has been shown to impact ulcerative colitis, IBS, Parkinson's, depression, diabetes, allergies, cardiovascular system, Liver issues, even neurological issues. 

Do you want a healthy microbiome?

• Eat a DIVERSITY of foods (especially fresh, live foods).  Most people living in Western cultures only eat 10-12 different plants and animal products.
• Cut out the processed junk.  Not only do these belly-filling substances have zero nutrients, they harm beneficial bacteria.
• MOVE.
• REST and get 7-8 hours of sleep.
• Take a high quality PROBIOTIC that can get to your intestines where its needed!
• Eat lots of FIBER (fruits and veggies) - it's food for your probiotics.